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Reviews
Doctor Odyssey (2024)
Wow this is a stinker
I've slogged my way through 3 of these and I have to say this is perhaps one of the worst shows in recent memory. Bad writing, Bad acting, ludicrous premise. And who still goes on cruises anyway after a decade or more of disasters? They should have at least waited until the industry regained some credibility before doing a bachelor meets Love Boat.
I realize US television audiences are not known for their sophisticated taste, but the fact that this is attracting a lot of viewers is kind of embarrassing.
If you want more entertaining cruise show, "The Good Ship Murder" at least has a plot and the characters are not as disgusting. The singer can't sing but they mercifully put it at the end so you can skip it.
Looking for Her (2022)
Amateurish At Best
Ignoring for a moment that the plot is one of the most time worn Christmas movie plots, there is at least room for good production values but alas there are none. Really bad script with unrealistic dialog. Truly terrible acting. Poor photography. Disjointed direction plus they didn't get get performances out of the cast. I guess the costumes were ok. I can only guess that all the 10s are because it's a lesbian feel good movie. There are some excellent Christmas movies with lesbian characters but this is a truly terrible example. It would take a Kristin Stewart to bail this one out. Don't waste your time. Watch a rerun.
Christmas at the Chalet (2023)
The Terri Hatcher Christmas Movie
Yes Christmas movies have no original plots and if you're lucky they're filmed at a scenic real location instead of the Hallmark studio lot in Vancouver. There are a few of the Christmas movie actress troupe that can actually carry a movie (ex. Bethany Joy Lenz) such that's its watchable. Terri Hatcher is now in that small group IMHO. This movie is in reality a Terri vehicle so if you like her (I do) then sit back and enjoy. Otherwise you may want to skip it. Scenery is ok but mostly generic Colorado ski area. Actors are competent but are overshadowed by TH. Dialog / Direction is focused on Hatcher, so it works as long as she is performing. All in all a watchable holiday movie thanks to TH.
Bap Jal Sajuneun Yeppeun Nuna (2018)
Most Depressing Show...Ever
This show is really really dark and moves at a snails pace. Assuming you can get past the HORRIBLE music, which is 2nd rate covers of 2nd rate American country music, the characters are always screaming and hitting each other because they are drunk most of the time. The mother is absolutely disgusting and in most civilized countries would be locked away in an institution for the criminally insane. Not to mention the ex-boyfriend who tries to kill off the main character. I made it through about 8 episodes ,but started skipping about episode 5. Finally stopped it after 8 to preserve my sanity. Yes a lot of the actors a good at their jobs which apparently is making you feel like no matter how bad you life is it couldn't be worse than the mess portrayed here.
Will Trent (2023)
Books are Classics ; TV Show is Garbage
Forgetting the books for a moment, this thing is a MESS. It's like you missed the intro somehow and absolutely nothing makes sense. Absolutely horrible scriptwriting and directing. A lot of the acting is ok but the lead seems pretty uncomfortable with the whole acting thing.
If you like the books, things are even worse. Half of the power couple that are at the center of the series is MIA. All the other complex relationship with the boss, the partner, etc are almost non-existent in TV show. Poor Karin Slaughter must be in hiding to avoid being associated with this piece of garbage. Now we know why many of the top mystery writers don't want their books on TV.
The Engagement Plot (2022)
Gobble Gooble
If you like Colorado Spring scenery you might enjoy the visuals. The reality show piece at the front is shot in a castle owned by a pretty intense religious group (The Navigators) and its generally not open to the (secular) public.
Other than that its pretty awful. Ms. Boston can often save a movie with her acting skills but its just not enough in this case. Part of the problem is the male lead (who I admit I don't like) is such a terrible actor that it actually exacerbates the really cheesy dialog. The plotting is one of the 5 standard Hallmark plots with a few more twists but the directing/editing is so terrible that you could lose your way.
If you want to see a better version of this check "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks."
If you want to see Colorado, keep your thumb on the fast forward.
Tom Swift (2022)
Truly Awful
Like a lot of white males I was attracted by the name since many of us grew up reading the books. Casting a black lead was an opportunity to update the series but instead this is collection of unrealistic stereotypes on top of ridiculously trite dialog. They apparently skimped on the writing hoping they could distract us with special effects which are equally unimpressive.
This may be one of the worst shows currently running (as you can see from the Rotten Tomato score). I maybe lasted 10 minutes on episode 1.
A Royal Runaway Romance (2022)
Your Average Hallmark Royal Movie
This was more or less watchable although nothing special as Hallmark royal movies go. The Aussie did a better job at the fake British accent than an American but still not very believable. The chemistry was OK but again nothing special. The weirdest part is they tried to to film a US roadtrip in BC.
Snow covered mountains in Nebraska? Still hoping for 1 decent royal movie this year. So far no joy.
Tall Girl 2 (2022)
Gave up after 20 minutes
Liked the first film and was looking forward this one. This seems to be made for folks with a cultish devotion to the first one because there's no plot. Just the characters from V1 running around spouting lines that require motivation from the first film to make any sense. More music might have saved it.
This is exactly what a sequel shouldn't be. Can't stand on its own.
Coroner (2019)
Is it just me or did this just improve dramatically?
I was on the verge of dropping this from my viewing list but this new season looks really good so far. Main character seems more functional. Last season she was all dark and tragic. Way too depressing.
Royally Wrapped for Christmas (2021)
Unwatachable
I tend to like the Hallmarkish royal movie plots more than the event-planner-saves-Christmas ones that abound this time of year. That said, this one is the worst I've ever seen! Bad accents. Bad writing. Bad acting. Bad directing. Blame it on the pandemic I guess but this thing is embarassingly BAD.
Making Spirits Bright (2021)
Truly Terrible
I watch a lot (most?) of these holiday movies. This was one of the worst this year. Completely ridiculous and poorly done. With these movies you want to find a character to relate to. This was filled with uninteresting and disagreeable people. I turned it off after 15 minutes.
Nantucket Noel (2021)
Pretty Lame...even for Hallmark
I watch quite a few of these things and I usually make it through to the end. We turned this one off after about 20 minutes. You don't expect an original plot, but you kind of hope for some interesting dialog or even some decent acting. The dialog here sounds like it was written by a robot and the acting is not very compelling (although I admit I have a bias against the male lead who appears in 3-4 of these a year). The scenery was not the normal Canadian B-roll although it doesn't look like Nantucket either--too pricey for a low budget operation.
My advice is to skip this one.
An Ice Wine Christmas (2021)
Only made it through 20 minutes or so
This being a Hallmark-style movie you're not going to get an original plot or particularly good writing. The most you can hope for is clever dialog, decent acting and maybe even some chemistry between love interests. This has none of these. I found it so tedious that I turned it off after 20 minutes and I wasn't even really paying attention anyway (cruising the web on my tablet).
Bad acting. Really bad writing although the female lead didn't seem to follow the script anyway. The scenery was mostly Hallmark standard B-roll from Canada but ironically I don't think it was from the area where they make ice wine (Niagra).
Skip It.
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits (2016)
Fast Forward thru the Musical Numbers
This is mostly a star vehicle for the two young lead performers, particularly the female lead. They are quite good musical performers and that is the only thing worth watching in this low budget musical. The boilerplate around them is cartoonish or worse. Just skip it.
Finger on the fast forward. Enjoy the music and dancing.
All Good Things (2019)
Truly Awful
Not sure who in the world is rating this more than a few stars because it is one of the worst movies I've seen in a while. Ironically the last bad one was "FIrst Lady" which had the same male lead. The acting is so bad it's painful to watch. The script is almost laughably bad if it weren't for all the sermonizing in between the robotic dialog Its also about 3X longer than it should be (although the scenery is pleasant),
This movie hits the stinker trifecta: bad acting, bad writing, bad direction.
Summer Love (2016)
Its Rachel Leigh Cook...say no more
Ok I would watch almost anything she did (although that Christmas travel movie in 2021 broke that rule). This actually has a fairly unique story line which is unusual for these Hallmarkish movies. It was even kinda realistic speaking as a HT person. The acting and direction were not bad; nothing special. Weak chemistry in the romance department. The ensemble seemed to get along which worked well for the feeling of a team spirit.
Watchable, but for me that is mostly because of Ms. Cook--she's all that (sorry I couldn't stop myself).
Love Upstream (2021)
Better Than Average Hallmarkish Movie
This movie is actually worth watching, probably because it wasn't actually produced by Hallmark. Good acting. Nice witty dialog. Yeah the plot is not original like most of these movies, but the good acting / directing / writing make it very watchable as a romcom.
Of particular note is the male lead actor (Canadian) who can actually act, unlike many of the male actors in this type of movie. In fact the chemistry between the male and female lead is also very good. They do a great job playing off each other.
As what I call a "Hallmarkish" movie this is a cut above most of them.
Resort to Love (2021)
Better Than Your Average Hallmarkish Movie
So this isn't in the running for an academy award so I think its only fair to compare it to the movies you'd find on Hallmark or UP channels. Personally I think it is quite a bit above average in that category, mostly because of the very talented cast. It starts out rough and I was afraid I was in for a Tyler Perry crap movie but it got better quickly and I found myself pleasantly surprised.
The acting is quite good and the singing/music is excellent (much better than anything you would find in a Hallmarkish film), The lead actress is particularly talented and her supporting actors ain't bad either. The plot is same old same old but the dialog was fairly well done. Scenery was very pretty--a nice break from western Canada.
Crack a beer. Sit back and enjoy the music and the pretty people er I mean scenery. Not the worst way to spend 90 minutes.
The Christmas Dance (2021)
Warning: Significant Religious Content
For some reason there is no mention of this that I can see but an accurate review of this movie should mention its really a "Christian Movie" as in even the dialog is peppered with religious references after the first 10 minutes. Characters are referred to "brother" this and "sister" by the minister father who plays a leading role.
The lead actress is pretty good and the supporting cast isn't too bad. For me it got so bogged down in the religious aspects that I couldn't finish it. In the end there is no real plot except to "witness" no us non-believers,
The high rating was clearly bid up by believers. Compared to other "Hallmark type" movies it is objectively not very good.
A Royal Christmas Ball (2017)
Sharknado and the King
As other reviewers have said, whomever cast Ms. Sharknado / American Pie in a serious romantic comedy should be banned from the industry for life. This has the bones of a decent "royal rom com" but with the bad acting, bad directing and sloppy editing it is mess. Too bad. Some of the cast isn't bad but its just not enough to make this watchable.
First Lady (2020)
Major Stink Warning
This is about the worst movie I have seen this year--I can't believe I actually watched it to the end. The mystery is why its so bad what with some fairly competent actors involved. The writing is bad. The acting is bad. The directing is non-existent. Seriously, just don't waste your time because it doesn't get any better as it meanders along aimlessly.
Madison and the Happiness Jar (2021)
Yeah its pretty bad.
Watch the first 5 minutes. The acting is painful to watch IMHO. If youre ok with it then by all means continue.
Sand Dollar Cove (2021)
We Ditched It About Half Way Through
While its nice to have something filmed on a location other than the Hallmark factory in Vancouver, the scenery doesn't make up for the truly awful script. Although Hallmark movies are predictable some at least have entertaining dialog. In this move the actors are just spouting random dialog and since the script is yet another "mean outside developer wants to ruin nice little town" plot there are not a lot of reasons to watch. If you want to be entertained for 90 minutes just skip it. If you have some walls to paint it you could keep it running as background noise. The actors aren't too bad although its a little hard to tell since they have nothing interesting to say. Kudos for the CT coastline, but its not very authentic with no mention of the Patriots (or maybe the Giants).
The Baker's Son (2021)
Barely watchable
Not sure why folks are writing flattering reviews while apologizing for it. This really is quite terrible even on the Hallmark movie spectrum. The writing is particularly bad., At some point we just stopped listening. Probably should have just turned the radio on....
The acting wasn't too bad and the actors wire pleasant. The only thing to recommend it the scenery. They found a piece of Vancouver area coastline that I hadn't seen in other Hallmark shows.